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I'm a proud owner of the above sculpture 'Paul' by my friend, Sydney artist Gary
Deirmendjian (website). Gary is highly accomplished photographer, video artist,
and an intuitive sculptor of pieces often in monumental proportions.
A few days ago I received an e-mail from him, where he told me the good news
of one of his large scale sculptural installations (consumer temple - broken icon) having
been selected for a publication called 'Container Atlas', a major book with international focus of
advances in container architecture, by Gestalten (Berlin, 2010):
Writes Gary:
'Amongst the multitude of international architectural projects, I'm only one of two artists whose
works are featured. As you may appreciate, I'm not seeking to transform the container's use
into another mode of utility, but am rather aiming to present it as an active element within the
suggestive field of a given work, for its symbolic and aesthetic value, in an actual sense.'
Here are some images of the work in question, with catalogue details:
consumer temple - broken icon 2009
:::: work created for The Armory Exhibition 2009, Newington Armory, NSW
:::: installation consisting of a 20’ shipping container; hardwood timber pallets; cash register & other
:::: 8m (height) x 3.5m x 3.5m
:::: 5 tonnes (total)
artist's statement
A shipping container and timber pallets are combined to form an upright architectural proposition.
The work sits singular in the green expanse in a state of stable decay.A narrow entrance leads into
an intimately walled enclosure offering no out other than the way of entry. Through the walls only
fragments of the outer world are discernible. In the relative darkness the eye is drawn up into the airy
chamber high above, where light beams through small windows onto a centrally suspended cash
register. It hangs beaten, broken and looted.
While the architecture may suggest a foreign house of worship, its deity and practices, however, are
imaginable and may feel oddly familiar. In its dilapidated state, it may be read as an abandonment
scenario, where the faith that has brought this house into being is clearly no longer
dispensed here.
You're full of surprises my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Esa for your care and thoughtfulness.
Gary